Boston

I'm in Boston this week for a conference. As a marathoner, one of the places I wanted to see was the site of the marathon bombing earlier this year. How horrible it must've been for the spectators and the runners near the explosion.  When you're within that last mile of a marathon, you're focused on finishing and, no matter how your race has unfolded, you are ecstatic to see that finish line. That euphoric feeling was ripped away from many, many runners that day. People cheering on their friends and loved ones were suddenly thrust into a horrible situation.  Needlessly. 

The site was surreal. To have seen this only on television, seeing the horror remotely was sad enough, but standing in the spot made it even more real. I'm not sure what expected, or if I had any expectations at all...but that stretch of city street could've been anywhere, in any city in the US.  It's a trendy area - shops, restaurants, bars with plenty of people walking around at night, things to do, great architecture and historical sites. A beautiful part of the city. 

Now it's surrounded by chain link fence, and signs of construction are everywhere. It commands a moment of silence for everyone whose lives were impacted in those few terrible seconds. 

I'm happy to see it being restored, a new sidewalk and rebuilt storefronts.  I snapped a few pictures and walked back to my hotel. But that odd, quiet feeling lingers with me...